It has finally begun! The first of THE SOUL MATE TREE SERIES has been released into the wild today! My contribution, SWEET SACRIFICE, is slated for release in Sept. 2017 (can’t wait!) but check out the very first paranormal romance of the series, REALM OF THE DRAGON by the fab duo, CiCi Cordelia. Take it away, CiCi! ❤

Thank you for hosting us today to discuss our new release, Realm of the Dragon by CiCi Cordelia, Book One of The Soul Mate Tree Series. CiCi is the pen name BFFs Char Chaffin and Cheryl Yeko. We’re both multi-published authors and Senior Acquiring Editors for Soul Mate Publishing. We share a love of well-written stories infused with our favorite romantic genres: paranormal, suspense, and erotica. We are both fans of Alpha Men and the women they’d lay down their lives for.

The Soul Mate Tree is our flagship series. When we presented the idea to Soul Mate Owner and Senior Editor Debby Gilbert, she fell in love with the premise and gave it her professional blessing. The Legend of the Soul Mate Tree is a multi-author effort, with one book release per month, starting in January 2017 and running through January 2018. If all goes well, Char and I plan to do more fun projects, and have some ideas in mind. We already have authors asking us about our next project. Fun!

Once we set everything in motion amongst our authors and culled interest from a dozen interested writers, the project took on a life of its own. Our cover artist, Wren Taylor, is a miracle worker, and created the most amazing cover art, branding the project wonderfully. Then we needed a hook for our project, and since Char used to write poetry, she collected the physical attributes and magical abilities of the tree, items we had already decided upon, and sketched out a poem.

Together, we polished it up, and ‘The Legend of the Soul Mate Tree’ was born:

I am old, I am ancient, my purpose is clear

To give those who are needy a treasure so dear.

They who come to my roots, touch my bark, stroke my leaves

Find the soul of their lives if they but believe.

When I call and you listen, your prize will be great

If your heart remains open and you don’t hesitate.

Do you yearn? Be you lonely? Is your time yet at hand?

Reach for me and I’ll give to you. I’m yours to command.

For your trust, for your faith, keep my secrets untold

And I’ll gift you forever, to have and to hold.

REALM OF THE DRAGON:

An ancient legend spanning eras, continents, and worlds. To some, it’s nothing more than a dream. To others, a pretty fairy tale handed down through the generations.

For those in critical need of their own happy ending, a gift.

For sheltered Lily Kiers, it’s all too real. Her escape from danger, straight into the arms of her destiny.

Thrust into a realm made of fantasy and unbridled passion, Lily faces violent resentment and jealousy from extremely powerful enemies. Amidst fierce creatures whose very existence defy all common sense, Lily pieces together a past she could never have imagined.

Claimed by Kord, Prince of Battle Draconian, their love will not be denied, even as malevolent forces plot to rip them apart.

“I won’t hurt you.” The dragon’s powerful voice held a soothing quality. Then it ruined the moment by leaning down to sniff her. “Mmm. You smell like apples and honey.” To her amazement, that long, forked tongue re-emerged and flicked gently along her neck. Its texture felt incongruously like velvet.

Lily managed to bite back a hysterical shriek even as her lower lip trembled. She clamped it between her teeth to steady it, before venturing, “A-Are you going to eat me?”

Every muscle and bone in her body hurt. Her world had upended itself. Beyond exhausted, she longed for this nightmare to end.

If a dragon could frown, then this dragon was definitely frowning. Its fierce expression sent additional shudders through her, and she fully expected those massive jaws to come for her at any moment.

As hard as she struggled for calm, tears leaked from her eyes when he raised long, sharp claws and reached for her. Too frightened to move, she turned her head away. The thrumming of her heart pounded through her entire body as she waited for the sharp talons to slash into her. Instead, the dragon carefully nudged her cheek until she was forced to raise her face and meet its magnetic stare.

“I said I wouldn’t hurt you.” Then slowly and gently the creature unfurled its tail, the very tip pressing against her lower back as if encouraging her to gain her feet, and held her steady until she was standing securely on the ground.

Before Lily had a chance to run, there was a bright flash of light, then a shimmering of brilliant colors. Her jaw slackened at the sight of a man standing before her.